Student Discipline

The Board believes that effective student discipline is a prerequisite for sound educational practice and productive learning. The objectives of disciplining any student must be to help the student develop a positive attitude toward self-discipline and socially acceptable behavior.

All policies and procedures for handling general and major student discipline problems shall be designed to achieve these broad objectives. Disorderly students shall be dealt with in a manner which allows other students to learn in an atmosphere which is safe, conducive to the learning process and free from unnecessary disruptions.

The Board in accordance with state law has adopted a written student conduct and discipline code based upon the principle that every student is expected to follow accepted rules of conduct and to show respect for and to obey persons in authority. The code also emphasizes that certain behavior, especially behavior that disrupts the classroom, is unacceptable and may result in disciplinary action.

All Board-adopted policies and Board-approved regulations containing the letters “JK” in the file name constitute the discipline section of the legally required code.

Immunity for Enforcement of Discipline Code

An act of a teacher or other employee shall not be considered child abuse if the act was performed in good faith and in compliance with Board policy and procedures.

A teacher or any other person acting in good faith and in compliance with the discipline code adopted by the Board shall be immune from criminal prosecution or civil liability unless the person is acting willfully or wantonly.

Disciplinary Information to School Personnel

In accordance with state law, the principal or designee shall communicate disciplinary information concerning any student enrolled in the school to any teacher who has direct contact with the student in the classroom and to any counselor who has direct contact with the student. The purpose of this requirement is to keep school personnel apprised of situations that could pose a risk to the safety and welfare of others.

For purposes of this policy, "disciplinary information" means confidential student records maintained by or in the possession of the principal or designee on an individual student which indicate the student has committed an overt and willful act which constitutes a violation of the district’s code of student conduct and/or there is reasonable cause to believe, through information provided to the principal from another credible source, that the student could pose a threat to the health and safety of other students and school personnel based on prior misbehavior.

“Disciplinary information” is intended to include only that information of a serious nature that is not otherwise available to teachers and counselors as part of the education records maintained on students or other reports of disciplinary actions. It is appropriate for instructional staff members to request disciplinary information from the principal or designee on students in their classrooms if there is concern that the student poses a threat to the safety of other students or school officials.

Any teacher or counselor to whom disciplinary information is reported shall maintain the confidentiality of the information and shall not communicate it to any other person. The principal or designee shall inform the student and the student’s parent/guardian when such disciplinary information is communicated and provide a copy of the disciplinary information to the student and student’s parent/guardian if requested to do so. The student and/or the student’s parent/ guardian may challenge the accuracy of disciplinary information through the administrative regulations which accompany this policy.

Remedial Discipline Plans

Discipline of Habitually Disruptive Students

Students who have been suspended three times for causing a material and substantial disruption in the classroom, on school grounds, in school vehicles or at school activities or events during the school year shall be declared habitually disruptive students. Any student enrolled in the district’s schools may be subject to being declared a habitually disruptive student. Declaration as a habitually disruptive student may result in the student’s expulsion.

Discipline of Students with Disabilities

Appropriate discipline for students with disabilities shall be in accordance with the student's individual education plan (IEP), Section 504 plan or any behavior intervention plan and policy JK*-2, Discipline of Students with Disabilities. In order to comply with all state and federal laws, the special education director shall be contacted prior to the use of any disciplinary measure which is not authorized by the student’s IEP, Section 504 plan or behavior intervention plan.

Distribution of Conduct and Discipline Code

The superintendent shall arrange to have the conduct and discipline code distributed once to each student in elementary, middle, junior high and high school and once to each new student in the district. Copies shall be posted in each school of the district. In addition, any significant change in the code shall be distributed to each student and posted in each school.

The Board shall consult with administrators, teachers, parents, students and other members of the community in the development of the conduct and discipline code.